To investigate the safety of liposomal doxorubicin in the treatment of breast cancer.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of breast cancer patients who were treated with liposomal doxorubicin in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the 960th Hospital of PLA from October 2018 to September 2021. The reasons for choosing liposomal doxorubicin were analyzed. The cardiac toxicity and other adverse reactions were evaluated.

A total of 215 cases were collected. Objective reasons for choosing liposomal doxorubicin were as follow: previous history of heart disease in 5 cases(2.3%), advanced age (≥65 years old) in 11 cases(5.1%), history of heart disease or genetic factors of heart disease in 15 cases(7.0%)and left breast radiotherapy in 75 cases (34.9%). Subjective reasons were as follow: special concern about chemotherapy toxicity in 57 cases (26.5%) and concern about long-term quality of life and drug-induced cardiotoxicity in 52 cases (24.2%). Five patients had impaired cardiac function. Other adverse reactions were as follow: leukopenia (34.9%, 75/215), hair loss (27.4%, 59/215), nausea and vomiting (19.1%, 41/215), numbness of hands and feet (7.0%, 15 /215) and thrombocytopenia (19.1%, 41/215). Among the unique adverse reactions, hand-foot syndrome occurred in 11 cases (5.1%, 11/215). Among the first 30 patients taking this drug, 15 patients had acute infusion reaction during the first chemotherapy cycle, including one patient who still had acute infusion reaction during the second cycle, with clinical symptoms of flushing and dyspnea relieved after drug withdrawal and blood volume expansion, and completed the treatment after reducing the infusion rate.

Due to objective and subjective factors, liposomal doxorubicin is applied in clinic, which is safe. However, attention should be paid to its adverse reactions, especially hand-foot syndrome and infusion reaction.